😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $911 in Long Mountain, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,184 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,469 in Long Mountain, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,026 in Long Mountain, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 41% more than Long Mountain, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Long Mountain are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen4% lower, Long Mountain32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94MX$209
$6.75MUR 316
76.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.75MX$748
$32.65MUR 1,528
30.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.59MX$185
$7.04MUR 329
50.43%
Cappuccino
$3.62MX$63.4
$1.35MUR 63.2
168.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47MX$25.69
$1.01MUR 47.08
45.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94MX$16.51
$0.56MUR 26.24
67.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09MX$54.1
$2.06MUR 96.4
50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46MX$78.0
$2.74MUR 128
62.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43MX$24.94
$1.51MUR 70.8
-5.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88MX$32.97
$0.21MUR 9.80
795.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MX$28.50
$1.34MUR 62.6
21.64%
Eggs
$2.64MX$46.26
$2.25MUR 105
17.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.21MX$144
$11.75MUR 550
-30.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$3.78MUR 177
119.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10MX$194
$7.63MUR 357
45.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65MX$46.40
$1.97MUR 92.4
34.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MX$26.26
$1.89MUR 88.4
-20.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.79
$1.51MUR 70.5
31.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.33
$1.69MUR 78.9
23.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.29
$0.98MUR 45.84
82.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.09
$0.99MUR 46.17
120.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MX$18.84
$0.84MUR 39.31
28.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04MX$18.15
$0.63MUR 29.56
65.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97MX$69.5
$6.74MUR 315
-41.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.20MX$179
$6.36MUR 298
60.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.22
$1.62MUR 75.7
6.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50MX$43.71
$2.23MUR 104
12.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52MX$9.07
$1.04MUR 48.55
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.97MX$472
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14MX$55.0
$4.49MUR 210
-30.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40MX$42.04
$2.73MUR 128
-12.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09MX$54.0
$19.74MUR 924
-84.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27MX$22.28
$1.44MUR 67.4
-11.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KMX$540.4K
$35.1KMUR 1.6M
-11.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$408.0K
$28.7KMUR 1.3M
-18.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0MX$1,435
$50.3MUR 2,352
63.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.45MX$393
$11.13MUR 521
101.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.66MX$519
$33.28MUR 1,557
-10.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9MX$908
$38.22MUR 1,788
35.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.67MX$327
$17.51MUR 819
6.62%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97MX$87.0
$6.08MUR 285
-18.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198MX$3,462
$156MUR 7,283
27.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,273MX$92.3K
$868MUR 40.6K
507.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.34MX$636
$33.31MUR 1,559
9.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.05MX$701
$44.66MUR 2,090
-10.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MX$1,398
$66.7MUR 3,122
19.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9MX$1,555
$67.0MUR 3,134
32.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963MX$16.9K
$520MUR 24.3K
85.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MX$8,133
$349MUR 16.3K
33.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,596MX$27.9K
$959MUR 44.9K
66.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209MX$21.2K
$713MUR 33.4K
69.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,942MX$69.0K
$3,692MUR 172.8K
6.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,448MX$112.8K
$3,264MUR 152.7K
97.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Long Mountain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$720MX$12.6K
$1,088MUR 50.9K
-33.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.42
6.67
71.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Last update for Long Mountain: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $963 in Playa del Carmen versus $520 in Long Mountain. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 51% higher in Long Mountain, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $33.00 in Long Mountain. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $185 – making Long Mountain the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Playa del Carmen vs Long Mountain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Long Mountain cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,930 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,367 in Long Mountain. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Long Mountain, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Playa del Carmen or Long Mountain?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $43.00 in Playa del Carmen and $33.00 in Long Mountain. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Playa del Carmen and Long Mountain?
Groceries cost about 35% more in Playa del Carmen, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Playa del Carmen or Long Mountain?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Long Mountain, where all-in costs run around $911, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,287. In Long Mountain it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Long Mountain more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Long Mountain – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Playa del Carmen or Long Mountain?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Long Mountain. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared